StateLicensed

HVAC Technician License Requirements in Nevada

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
—
Upfront cost
$490
Exam
Construction Management Survey (CMS) / Business and Law Examination, C-21 Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractor trade examination
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Pass a criminal background check. NSCB requires a Background Disclosure Statement and a Fingerprint Background Waiver form for every person listed on the application (owners, officers, qualifying individual, and — for sole proprietors — their spouse). Criminal convictions can be grounds for denial, since applicants must demonstrate 'good character.' No explicit statutory minimum age was found in the reviewed application materials. [4]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete the required training. Nevada licenses at the contractor/business level, not individual technicians — the license belongs to the business entity, with a designated trade 'qualifying individual' who must demonstrate at least 4 full years of experience as a journeyman, supervising employee, or contractor in the C-21 classification within the 15 years before applying. Training from an accredited college, university, or Board-approved equivalent program may substitute for up to 3 of those 4 years; transferable military training or a current master's certification from a government agency in a substantially similar discipline may also count. There is no fixed classroom-hour figure — the requirement is expressed in years of verified experience. [1]

  3. 3

    Construction Management Survey (CMS) / Business and Law Examination

    Pass the Construction Management Survey (CMS) / Business and Law Examination (fee: $95). Required of all applicants regardless of trade classification, unless a reciprocity waiver applies. $95 if scheduled alone, or $140 total if scheduled together with a single trade exam at the same sitting. [2]

  4. 4

    C-21 Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractor trade examination

    Pass the C-21 Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractor trade examination (fee: $95). Open book; covers refrigeration/refrigerants, piping and tubing, condensers and cooling towers, controls/valves/wiring, ducts and ventilation, gas, and safety, referencing the Uniform Mechanical Code and NFPA 54 Candidates get 3 attempts to pass, with a mandatory 2-week wait between failed attempts; failing 3 times voids the application and requires reapplying with the Board. [2]

  5. 5

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB) with the $300 application fee. [3]

  6. 6

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB) issues your C-21 Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Contractor License for Nevada.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] $300
License fee [3] None specified
Renewal fee [3] $600
Construction Management Survey (CMS) / Business and Law Examination [2] $95
C-21 Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractor trade examination [2] $95

The $300 nonrefundable application fee is charged whether or not the application is approved; NSCB does not charge a separate license-issuance fee. A Residential Recovery Fund Assessment (roughly $200-$1,000 depending on the requested monetary limit) and continuous surety bond ($1,000-$500,000 depending on classification, experience, and financial responsibility) are also required but vary per applicant rather than being a fixed fee, so they are not listed as a single number. Exam fees ($95-$140, see exams array) are paid separately to PSI.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years.

Licenses expire two years from the last day of the month in which they were issued and renew biennially for a $600 fee, plus proof of continued workers' compensation insurance and continuous bond maintenance. No continuing-education hour requirement was found for license renewal.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Nevada offers 'licensure by endorsement' for applicants actively licensed for the past 4 years in a state with substantially equivalent requirements and no disciplinary actions. The CMS (Business and Law) exam is still mandatory even for endorsement applicants, and the trade exam may still be required if the endorsing state's exam isn't considered equivalent. No interstate compact covers HVAC/mechanical contractor licensing.

3 state-approved training providers in Nevada — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.

Cost calculator

  • $300
  • $95
  • $95
Total$490

Frequently asked questions

Does Nevada license individual HVAC technicians?

Nevada licenses at the contractor/business level through the C-21 Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Contractor license, issued by the Nevada State Contractors Board. A business designates a qualifying individual — the person with the required experience — to take the exams; the license belongs to the entity, not that individual.

How much experience do I need before I can apply?

At least 4 full years as a journeyman, supervising employee, or contractor in the C-21 classification within the 15 years before applying. Accredited college/university training or Board-approved equivalent programs can substitute for up to 3 of those 4 years.

What exams does a C-21 applicant have to pass?

Two, both through PSI: the Construction Management Survey (Business and Law) exam and the C-21 trade exam. Each costs $95 alone, or $140 total if scheduled together in the same sitting.

Does Nevada run a background check on applicants?

Yes. Every person listed on the application must submit a Background Disclosure Statement and a Fingerprint Background Waiver; the Board evaluates 'good character' as part of qualification, and criminal convictions can be grounds for denial.

Does Nevada accept an out-of-state HVAC contractor license?

Nevada offers licensure by endorsement if you've been actively and continuously licensed for the past 4 years in a state with substantially equivalent requirements and no disciplinary history — but you still must pass the Business and Law exam, and possibly the trade exam if the other state's exam isn't deemed equivalent.

Sources

  1. [1] nvcontractorsboard.com/licensing/license-requirements/ — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] test-takers.psiexams.com/nvcon — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] nvcontractorsboard.com/licensing/faq-for-general-requirements/ — accessed 2026-07-12
  4. [4] nvcontractorsboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/License-Application-Form.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12